Etape 5 - Ristolas > Col Lacroix > Refuge de Jervis

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# Col Lacroix
The Col Lacroix (Italian: Colle della Croce) is an Alpine pass on the border between France and Italy, at an altitude of 2,299 meters.
This is essentially a mountain stage, with the passage of the Col Lacroix.
On the lower part of the climb, you'll see large larch trees, at least two hundred years old, which have contributed to the afforestation of this area.
Higher up, we pass through grassy areas, still wooded, which illustrate the fact that larch favours grass growth and grazing, and explains why it was favoured over pine or fir.
This pass lies between the Clot Lapierre head (2,730 m) to the north and the Col Lacroix peak (2,540 m) to the south. It crosses the Cottian Alps.
On the western side, the Guil flows into the Durance, which in turn flows into the Rhône. On the eastern side, tributaries of the Angrogna flow into the Pellice, itself a tributary of the Po. The pass thus lies on the watershed between the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.

# Refuge Napoléon
On the left, near the pass, are the ruins of a "Refuge Napoléon", one of 5 refuges built with an endowment from the emperor. Which just goes to show the importance of this pass.
"Every year, the pass hosts friendly Franco-Italian meetings at its summit," says Chantal Crovi in her guide to the Alpine valleys of Piedmont.

# Jervis and the upper Pellice valley
The descent to Jervis is steeper, reflecting the peculiarity of the Alps: on their eastern side, the mountains plunge more rapidly into the Piedmont plain. This slope, which receives disturbances from the Adriatic, is more often misty than the Queyras side.
The upper Pellice valley, with the grouping of the Pra chalets and the Willy Jervis refuge, is a beautiful alpine pasture, a small plain suspended at 1,732m, the "Combe du Pra", which is well worth appreciating.

In spring and autumn, conditions are changeable, and even snow-free trails can be icy. As a result, the reflex in the mountains is to "go out well equipped". In my bag, I slip or hang crampons and poles.

In winter, the right reflexes are: snowshoes, poles, gloves, hat, sun cream and... a survival blanket! Experience is essential, and knowing when to give up is sometimes preferable to taking risks. And if you're new to the mountains, don't hesitate to call in a professional! Before going out, I check the Météo France Montagnes and BERA bulletins (risks and avalanches).

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